As a correctional counselor you may be the first person some criminal justice offenders work with to receive constructive advice and guidance regarding steps they can take to lead positive lives and avoid breaking laws. Facilities you can get paid to work at include jails and prisons. Salaries you receive may be established by your city or state. Your corrections educational background and your job performance can also affect your salary.

National Salaries

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of 2011, correctional counselors and probation officers in the U.S. were paid a median annual salary of $47,840. Counselors and probation officers with salaries in the top 10 percent were paid $82,140 or more a year. Those with salaries in the bottom 10 percent received $31,210 or less. As part of their jobs, correctional counselors, also referred to as correctional treatment specialists, develop plans to rehabilitate people who are in the criminal justice system. For example, they might develop training and education plans for offenders to help them earn a GED certificate or enroll in college to gain the skills and knowledge to get hired. Counselors may also work with social service agencies to help offenders receive mental-health or substance-abuse treatment.

Pay by Industry

As many as 48,700 correctional counselors and probation officers worked for state government agencies in 2011, the most common employer for these professionals, according to the BLS. Their average yearly salary was $52,860. Local governments employed 35,410 correctional counselors and probation officers, paying them an average of $52,750, the BLS says. Individual and family services were their next-largest employer. However, this industry employed only 1,570 correctional counselors and probation officers, paying them an average of $35,300.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree is generally required to become a correctional counselor. Criminal justice, psychology and social work are types of fields employers look for correctional counselor job applicants to have their degree in. Having work experience as a substance-abuse counselor or social worker can also increase your chances of getting hired into correctional counselor positions. Before they can work with clients, newly hired correctional counselors are required to complete training provided by the facility they work for.

Job Outlook

From 2010 through 2020, jobs for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists are expected to grow by 18 percent according to the BLS. This job growth is on pace with that expected for other occupations. Changes to mandatory sentencing guidelines may increase the number of prisoners released from correctional facilities into counseling programs. Available funding for correctional programs is also expected to have an impact on the number of available jobs for correctional counselors through 2020.

About the Author

Rhonda Campbell is an entrepreneur, radio host and author. She has more than 17 years of business, human resources and project management experience and decades of book, newspaper, magazine, radio and business writing experience. Her works have appeared in leading periodicals like "Madame Noire," "Halogen TV," "The Network Journal," "Essence," "Your Church Magazine," "The Trenton Times," "Pittsburgh Quarterly" and "New Citizens Press."